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Are We a Nation of Malnourished People?

Today the Daily Mirror reported that the national plan to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient by 2020 may not happen. Apparently, our cattle and buffalo population had decreased by 7.2% in 2013, and in 2014 that fell by a massive 21%. There’s more about it here in the Agriculture and Economic census report 2013/2014 if you can read Sinhala. The English translation isn’t out as yet sadly.

If we are able to achieve self-sufficiency in producing milk it would be terrific! This would mean that milk can be purchased for much less than it is now. If we increase our intake of milk, we will certainly be healthier with all the extra calcium, vitamins and minerals in our system.

Nutrition is important because as it stands, we aren’t exactly the most nourished nation. Malnutrition among children and youth is becoming a growing concern.

It starts at birth

According to this report by UNICEF, malnutrition affects one-third of Sri Lanka’s children, and one-quarter of the women. So malnutrition starts early here.

It also reveals shocking stats such as almost 58% of infants between 6 and 11 months and 38% children between 12 – and 23 months being anaemic. Those are significant numbers. It means that quite a large part of our population will not develop properly – their bones, nerves, brain and other organs. They will not be able to reach their full potential in growth and development – not because of a fault of their, but because they just didn’t receive enough or the right nutrition when they were born.

The report goes on to say that 14% of children suffer from extreme malnutrition, and they weigh far less than they should. Children who are malnourished but not to an extreme stand at 29%.

Adolescents at risk

As we grow older, our hindered development and growth will continue to affect us. The government has some excellent policies in place to combat this but they seem to have hit a few snags in the implementation process. The National Strategic Plan: Adolescent Health for 2013 to 2017 report, states that the school curriculum includes nutrition information for adolescents, but they haven’t been able to execute them successfully.

The report also reveals that for children between the ages of 10 to 15 in 2002, overall prevalence of thinness was 47.2%, stunting at 28.5% and overweight at 2.2%. It’s clear that the effects of malnutrition is long term and will continue to affect us throughout our lives.

It’s interesting to see that obesity is at a low of 2.2%, but the report also says obesity can become a problem in Sri Lanka as adolescents resort to eating unhealthy quantities of junk food given their lifestyles.

How childhood malnutrition affects adults

Ultimately, as adults who did not receive adequate nutrition will not be able reach their full potential and may develop non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and even cancer.

Looking at how this will affect the development of the country, the Youth and Development document published last year by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, is a good source of information. It states, ‘one of the main consequences of malnourished adults is reduced work capacity, and absenteeism owing to illness or exhaustion, which in turn has an impact on economic productivity’.

The report also talks about why an adequate level of nutrition is particularly important for women if we are to ensure we have a strong and health future generation. Malnourished mothers give birth to malnourished children.

What we can gather from all this information, is that while Sri Lanka has some impressive policies in place to ensure we are a healthy nation – from school food programmes, a plan to be self-sufficient in producing milk and free health care – there are lapses that are obstructing intended positive outcomes. Perhaps strengthening these policies and carrying out awareness programmes will help. Hopefully, the hard work that the government is doing will pay off soon.

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iVoice Idea Competition

About

iVoice is an online platform that encourages youth to discuss social issues and to drive innovative solutions. The platform features stories relating to social issues in Sri Lanka, which are submitted by iVoice contributors and the general public.

The objective of the iVoice Idea Competition is to encourage youth to play a participatory role in solving social issues. After reading a story featured on iVoice, youth can submit their ‘idea’ to help to address the social issue that is highlighted in the story. The ten best ideas will receive seed capital of Rs. 100,000/- each, and mentoring, to support in implementing their ideas.

Eligibility

Participants must be Sri Lankan nationals between the ages of 18-29 years

In the event that a participant is awarded the seed capital, he/she must take full responsibility to ensure the idea is implemented before 31 December 2017

Submitting ideas

The majority of articles featured on iVoice relate to a social issue. These stories have a ‘Submit Your Idea’ button at the end of the article, inviting youth to share their innovative ideas on how to address these social issues.

Submitted ideas must be innovative and unique. The ideas must also be practical and implementable by 31 December 2017.

The deadline for submitting an idea is 3 September 2017.

To submit an idea, the following details must be provided through the online form:

Confirmation that the idea can be implemented between the time period of 21 September – 31 December 2017

Title of idea: A brief title that summarizes the concept of the idea/solution (50 characters)

The problem: A 100 word description of the specific problem that your idea will address

The solution: A 500 word description of what you will do to help to address the problem and how you plan to implement your idea before 31 December 2017

Budget: Specify the total budget required to implement your idea in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR). Note that the ten winning submissions will be granted Rs. 100,000/- as seed capital in September 2017.

Note: Participants can submit any number of ideas; however, only one idea per article is permitted.

Evaluation process

Ideas will be evaluated through a competitive process.

03 Sept 2017: Closing of submissions at 23:59 on 3 September 2017

06 Sept 2017: Shortlisting of 20 ideas

13 Sept 2017: Shortlisted applicants to present their ideas in further detail to the judging panel

21 Sept 2017: The ten winning ideas will be announced at the Award Ceremony at which Rs. 100,000/- seed capital will be granted to each of the winning applicants

Evaluation criteria includes creativity of the proposed idea to address the given social issue, and feasibility of implementation within the stipulated budget and timeframe.

The number of votes received per idea will not be a deciding factor.

The judging panel’s decision will be final.

Implementing ideas

The ten young people will receive the seed capital on 21 September 2017. They will also be provided mentoring organized by the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum and the United Nations Population Fund, to support in implementation of their ideas. All winning participants must provide a progress report every 2 weeks and must take full responsibility to complete project implementation by 31 December 2017.

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Terms & Conditions

iVoice Idea Competition

About

iVoice is an online platform that encourages youth to discuss social issues and to drive innovative solutions. The platform features stories relating to social issues in Sri Lanka, which are submitted by iVoice contributors and the general public.

The objective of the iVoice Idea Competition is to encourage youth to play a participatory role in solving social issues. After reading a story featured on iVoice, youth can submit their ‘idea’ to help to address the social issue that is highlighted in the story. The ten best ideas will receive seed capital of Rs. 100,000/- each, and mentoring, to support in implementing their ideas.

Eligibility

Participants must be Sri Lankan nationals between the ages of 18-29 years

In the event that a participant is awarded the seed capital, he/she must take full responsibility to ensure the idea is implemented before 31 December 2017

Submitting ideas

The majority of articles featured on iVoice relate to a social issue. These stories have a ‘Submit Your Idea’ button at the end of the article, inviting youth to share their innovative ideas on how to address these social issues.

Submitted ideas must be innovative and unique. The ideas must also be practical and implementable by 31 December 2017.

The deadline for submitting an idea is 3 September 2017.

To submit an idea, the following details must be provided through the online form:

Confirmation that the idea can be implemented between the time period of 21 September – 31 December 2017

Title of idea: A brief title that summarizes the concept of the idea/solution (50 characters)

The problem: A 100 word description of the specific problem that your idea will address

The solution: A 500 word description of what you will do to help to address the problem and how you plan to implement your idea before 31 December 2017

Budget: Specify the total budget required to implement your idea in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR). Note that the ten winning submissions will be granted Rs. 100,000/- as seed capital in September 2017.

Note: Participants can submit any number of ideas; however, only one idea per article is permitted.

Evaluation process

Ideas will be evaluated through a competitive process.

03 Sept 2017: Closing of submissions at 23:59 on 3 September 2017

06 Sept 2017: Shortlisting of 20 ideas

13 Sept 2017: Shortlisted applicants to present their ideas in further detail to the judging panel

21 Sept 2017: The ten winning ideas will be announced at the Award Ceremony at which Rs. 100,000/- seed capital will be granted to each of the winning applicants

Evaluation criteria includes creativity of the proposed idea to address the given social issue, and feasibility of implementation within the stipulated budget and timeframe.

The number of votes received per idea will not be a deciding factor.

The judging panel’s decision will be final.

Implementing ideas

The ten young people will receive the seed capital on 21 September 2017. They will also be provided mentoring organized by the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum and the United Nations Population Fund, to support in implementation of their ideas. All winning participants must provide a progress report every 2 weeks and must take full responsibility to complete project implementation by 31 December 2017.

Terms & Conditons

I agree to the following:

- My story is my own work and does not contain plagiarized material or violate any copyright infringements

- My work is subjected to an editorial committee review that may add, remove, or amend my story, if necessary, to enhance its value

- The editorial committee has the right to decide whether or not my story is published

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- By agreeing to ‘Allow Ideas submission from iVoice community’, I allow anyone to submit an Idea or solution to my story

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